LONDON SACKED HARMONIC SOCIETY.
This Society, formed by Mr. Surma!' with the support of the minority who took his side in the dispute with the Sacred Harmonic Society, holds its meetings, like the old Society, in Exeter Hall, and is carried on in the same manner, and with an orchestra and chorus little inferior in numbers. Its first concert of the season took place last night. Handel's Messiah was again performed, with satisfactory effect on the whole. Mr. Sims Reeves was unable to appear, but he had a respectable substitute in Mr. Lockey; and the soprano and contralto parts were well sustained by Miss Birch and Miss Dolby. The chorus-singing was correct, and often powerful, but heavy from the want of sufficient variety and contrast.
The numerous attendance last night, no less than on Wednesday, shows that there is room for both Societies, and that both may be successfully carried on if they take different ground: the one endeavouring to enlarge the field of oratorio music, by introducing the numerous great works of the German and Italian schools as yet unknown in England; and the other adhering chiefly to the works of Handel, already well understood both by English performers and the English public, and which, from their breadth and simplicity as well as sublimity, will ever hold the first place in the affections of the people of this country.
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